CM Nayab Saini Pays Tribute on Azad Hind Fauj Foundation Day
Synopsis
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini marked the Azad Hind Fauj Foundation Day on October 21, 2026, saluting Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the INA's fighters, and invoking the historic 1943 tricolour hoisting in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Key Takeaways
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini posted a tribute on October 21, 2026 , the Foundation Day of the Azad Hind Fauj .
He offered koti-koti naman — a deep collective salute — to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and all freedom fighters of the armed independence struggle.
The CM specifically highlighted the 1943 hoisting of the tricolour in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a defining symbol of the INA's resolve.
The Indian National Army was reorganised under Bose in 1943 and drew from Indian POWs and volunteers across Southeast Asia.
India observes Parakram Diwas on January 23 each year — Netaji's birth anniversary — as a formal state commemoration since 2021 .
On the Foundation Day of the Azad Hind Fauj, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini offered tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and every soldier who fought for the liberation of the motherland — invoking the defiant spirit that once made an entire army march against an empire.
In a post on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, CM Saini wrote in Hindi: 'Koti-koti naman' — a deep, collective salute — to Netaji and all the brave fighters of the independence struggle. He highlighted Bose's 'indomitable courage, leadership and dedication to the nation' as forces that rekindled the belief in freedom among ordinary Indians at a moment when colonial rule seemed unbreakable.
The 1943 Tricolour Moment That Defined a Movement
Saini specifically recalled one of the most charged episodes of the armed independence struggle: the hoisting of the Indian tricolour in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 1943. When the Azad Hind Provisional Government — the government-in-exile led by Bose — raised the flag over those islands, it was more than a symbolic act. It was the first time Indian soil stood, however briefly, outside British jurisdiction under an Indian authority. The CM called it 'a historic event symbolising the resolve of the Azad Hind Fauj and the struggle of Netaji.'
The Indian National Army (INA), reorganised under Bose in 1943, drew from Indian prisoners of war and civilian volunteers across Southeast Asia. Its defining proposition was stark: armed resistance, not petition. That doctrine made the INA controversial in its time and electrifying in memory.
A Legacy That Still Shapes National Remembrance
India has formally institutionalised the memory of Bose through Parakram Diwas, observed every January 23 — his birth anniversary — since 2021. The Foundation Day of the Azad Hind Fauj on October 21 draws similar political attention each year, with leaders across the spectrum paying homage. BJP leaders have been particularly consistent in weaving Bose's legacy into the party's narrative of national pride and sacrifice.
Saini closed his tribute with a forward-looking note: the sacrifice, valour and patriotism of these fighters, he wrote, 'will always inspire us to keep the national interest supreme.' It is the recurring, enduring chord in Indian public life — honouring those who gave everything so that the idea of a free India could survive.
A nation that remembers its fighters clearly knows what it is fighting to protect.
Point of View
Partly to broaden the independence legacy beyond the Congress-affiliated mainstream. CM Saini's tribute follows a well-established pattern where state-level BJP leaders reinforce this framing on anniversary dates tied to the armed independence movement. The specific invocation of the 1943 Andaman tricolour hoisting — an act of sovereign assertion — fits neatly into a broader political language that valorises bold, decisive action in the national interest. Over time, these annual remembrances cumulatively shape public memory in ways that have durable electoral and cultural resonance.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Foundation Day of the Azad Hind Fauj?
The Azad Hind Fauj Foundation Day is observed on October 21 each year, marking the date in 1943 when Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose declared the formation of the Provisional Government of Free India.
What happened in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 1943?
In 1943 , Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose hoisted the Indian tricolour in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands under the authority of the Azad Hind Provisional Government — the first time Indian soil was symbolically placed under an Indian government outside British rule.
Who was Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose?
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was a prominent Indian independence leader who formed and led the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) to fight British colonial rule through armed struggle, with support from Japan during World War II.
What is Parakram Diwas and when is it observed?
Parakram Diwas is observed on January 23 — Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary — and has been a formal national observance in India since 2021 to honour his courage and contribution to the freedom struggle.
Why did Haryana CM Nayab Saini post a tribute on October 21?
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini posted his tribute on October 21, 2026 to mark the Foundation Day of the Azad Hind Fauj , saluting Netaji Bose and all fighters who sacrificed their lives for India's independence.
